The Progress of Grace, Part 1
September 12, 2024 | by: Dale Thiele | 0 Comments
Posted in: Pastoral Encouragement
One of the books I read during sabbatical was Select Letters of John Newton. Newton is the author of the well-loved hymn, Amazing Grace, and ministered as a pastor in England during the late 18th century. These brief letters are packed with deep, practical, pastoral, and biblical wisdom. Three of his letters address the topic of the “progressive work of grace.” Newton explains how grace works in the life of an individual, from the first introduction of grace to the continual growth in grace as a mature follower of Christ. I found these letters incredibly insightful and helpful for those of us who are seeking to grow in grace. I want to share some of these insights over the next three weeks.
In his first letter, Newton considers the first work of grace in the life of an individual. He begins by reflecting on Jesus’ words in John 6:44, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” The first work of God’s grace in our lives is to draw us to Christ. This drawing is the work of the Holy Spirit, awakening in our hearts and minds an apprehension of the goodness of Christ. In the state of sin, we are blinded from seeing Christ as good (see 2 Cor. 4:4-6). We need this initial work of grace to draw us to Christ.
Newton wrestles with the question of whether conviction of sin would come before seeing the goodness of Christ. He argues that God, in his perfection, must be seen before true conviction of sin grows. He writes, “In order to a due conviction of sin, we must previously have some adequate conceptions of the God with whom we have to do. Sin may be feared as dangerous without this; but its nature and demerit can only be understood by being contrasted with the holiness, majesty, goodness, and truth, of the God against whom it is committed” (p. 2-3). So, we can say the second work of grace is the awakened conviction of sin.
Together, the awareness of Christ’s goodness and the conviction of sin lead to saving faith. Newton describes this early stage in the Christian faith as a mixture of faith and doubt. He writes, “[The new believer] is convinced of the power of Jesus to save him; but through remaining ignorance and legality, the remembrance of sin committed, and the sense of present corruption, he often questions his willingness; and, not knowing the aboundings of grace, and the security of the promises, he fears lest the compassionate Saviour should spurn him from his feet” (p. 4). More grace is needed to grow in assurance and confidence in the sufficiency of Christ. Newton touches on that work of grace in his second letter, which we’ll cover next week.
Newton has one more observation about the early works of grace in one’s life. He says, “The grace of God influences both the understanding and the affections. Warm affections, without knowledge, can rise no higher than superstition; and that knowledge which does not influence the heart and affections, will only make a hypocrite. The true believer is rewarded in both respects; yet we may observe, that though [the new believer] is not without knowledge, this state is more usually remarkable for the warmth and liveliness of the affections” (p. 6). In other words, a new believer is marked more by warm affections for Christ than deep understanding of Christ. God provides these warm affections as fuel for the deeper pursuit of the knowledge of God. The psalmist says, “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day” (119:97). Our love for God and Christ energizes our diligence to know him more and more.
Many of us have walked with the Lord for many years, and we may have forgotten the experience of first coming to faith in Christ. Newton’s reflections remind us of what prompted us towards faith and what doubts we may have struggled with at first. These recollections should humble us and lead us to patience with others in our midst who may be new to the Christian faith. May we all give thanks for the work of grace in our lives as we rest in Christ alone for salvation.
